The Northridge, California earthquake of January 17, 1994 : general reconnaissance report / edited by J.D. Goltz.

"March 11, 1994."

"NCEER task number 93-9001. NSF master contract number BCS 90-25010 and NYSSTF grant number NEC-91029."

On January 17,1994 at 4.31 a.m., a magnitude 6.6 earthquake struck the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Epicentered in the San Fernando Valley town of Northridge, California, the earthquake caused serious damage to buildings and sections of elevated freeways; ignited at least one hundred fires as it ruptured gas pipelines; and disrupted water supply systems. As a consequence, 57 people died, another 1,500 were seriously injured, and 22,000 were left homeless. Over 3,000 buildings, most of which were residential structures, were declared unsafe for reentry due to earthquake damage. Los Angeles, a city which has extensively prepared itself for earthquakes, found that it had experienced the most destructive event since the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Direct economic losses are estimated currently at over $20 billion. This report represents an interim evaluation of the performance of numerous structures and lifelines. In addition, the report includes sections on emergency response and societal impacts. Many of the observations and conclusions contained in this report are preliminary; it is not intended to be the final word on the earthquake, rather its purpose is to provide an additional increment of new information beyond that contained in earlier reports and to set the stage for further investigations